• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.423-430
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• 2019

In this study, the flexural strength, absorption rate, methylene blue photo catalyst decomposition performance and anti-fouling performance were evaluated according to the photo catalyst mixing rate and block surface wash status by applying photo catalyst to the surface layer of concrete sidewalk block. The results showed that the flexural strength of the block that mixed photo catalyst only in the surface layer of the concrete block was 5.32MPa of the general block (SNW) of 5% photo catalyst, compared to 5.46MPa of the non-mixed concrete block of the reference concrete block. Surface washing block (SW) 5.26MPa, 10% photo catalyst general block (SNW) 5.26MPa, and 5.15MPa surface washing block (SW). It has been shown that the presence of surface washing and the mixing rate of photo catalyst in the concrete block have no effect on the flexural strength. Moreover, the photoreaction performance of concrete sidewalk blocks showed that the methylene blue removal rate of specimens with 5% TiO₂ was 34.2%, the methylene blue removal rate of specimens with 10% TiO₂ was 37.1%, and the removal rate of the methylene blue of specimens with 5% TiO₂ was about 37.9% and 10% mixed specimens with TiO₂ was about 37.6%.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.540-547
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• 2021

Background: Indoor air pollutants are caused by a number of factors, such as coming in from the outside or being generated by internal activities. Typical indoor air pollutants include nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide from household items such as heating appliances and volatile organic compounds from building materials. In addition there is carbon dioxide from human breathing and bacteria from speaking, coughing, and sneezing. Objectives: According to recent research results, most indoor air pollution is known to be greatly affected by internal factors such as burning (biomass for cooking) and various pollutants. These pollutants can have a fatal effect on the human body due to a lack of ventilation facilities. Methods: We fabricated a polydopamine (PDA) layer with Ti substrates as a coating on supported glass fiber fabric to enhance its photo-activity. The PDA layer with TiO₂ was covalently attached to glass fiber fabric using the drop-casting method. The roughness and functional groups of the surface of the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric were verified through infrared imaging microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The obtained hybrid Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric was investigated for photocatalytic activity by the removal of ammonia and an epidermal Staphylococcus aureus reduction test with lamp (250 nm, 405 nm wavelength) at 24℃. Results: Antibacterial properties were found to reduce epidermal staphylococcus aureus in the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric under 405 nm after three hours. In addition, the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric of VOC reduction rate for ammonia was 50% under 405 nm after 30 min. Conclusions: An electron-hole pair due to photoexcitation is generated in the PDA layer and transferred to the conduction band of TiO₂. This generates a superoxide radical that degrades ammonia and removes epidermal Staphylococcus aureus.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.29-39
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• 2022

Objective : This study is aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Rehmanniae Radix, Mori Folium, and Liriopie Tuber mixture (RML) on lung injury of Particulate matter less than 10 um in diameter and diesel exhaust particles (PM10D) mice model. Methods : To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of RML, PM10D was diluted in aluminum hydroxide (Alum) in 7-week-old male mice and induced by Intra-Nazal-Tracheal (INT) injection method. Animal experiments were divided into 5 groups. Nor (normal mice), CTL (PM10D-induced mice with the administration of distilled water), DEXA (PM10D-induced mice with the administration of 3 mg/kg Dexamethasone), RML 100 (PM10D-induced mice treated with RML 100 mg/kg weight), and RML 200 (PM10D-induced mice treated with RML 200 mg/kg body weight). After 11 days administration, mice were sacrificed and inflammation-related immune cells in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were analyzed. Inflammation-related biomarkers were also analyzed in blood and lungs. Lung tissue was observed through histological examination. Results : In the PM10D induced model, the PML showed decreases in CXCL-1 and IL-17A in BALF. Expression of inflammatory cytokines and cough-related mRNA genes was significantly decreased in serum and lung tissue. The mixture treatment of RML significantly improved the immune related cells in the serum. In addition, histological observations showed a tendency to decrease the severity of lung injury. Conclusions : Overall, these results confirmed the respiratory protective effect of the RML mixture in a model of lung injury induced by air pollution (PM10+DEP), suggesting that it is a potential treatment for respiratory damage.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2006

The present study was conducted to confirm that a bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum can be used as a biomarker for the monitoring of the heavy metal pollution in the silt of the marine environment. The clams were collected from the silt of Cheonsu-bay, Buheung-ri, and Tan-island of the West Sea, Korea. To observe the normal structures of the target organs (hepatopancreas and gill), they were dissected out for the immunohistochemical study and the electron microscopy with TEM, SEM, and SEM-EDS. The immunohistochemical study showed that the interdiverticular connective tissues of the hepatopancreas, and the outer epithelium of the gill lamellae was strongly reacted to anti-metallothionein (MT), indicating the presence of MT, a metal-binding protein, involved in metal detoxifying process. According to the examinations under the TEM, the epithelial cells of the hepatopancreas of the clams collected from polluted area (Tan-island) showed certain changes such as swollen rER, swollen nuclear envelope and inclusion bodies in the nulcei. In the SEM-EDS analysis, tissue of the hepatopancreas showed relatively higher concentration of S, Zn, and Cd. These elements are supposed to be concerning with the MT-reaction in the hepatopancreas. Considering that the coastal bivalve R. philippinarum showed immediate subcellular responses to heavy metal pollution in the overall experiments conducted, this species might act as one of efficient biomarkers for the heavy metal contamination in the marine environment.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.249-258
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• 2018

Airborne pollution causes oxidative damage, inflammation, and premature aging of skin. Resveratrol is a polyphenol compound that has various biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-melanogenic activities but it is unstable to heat and light. Resveratryl triacetate (RTA) is a new cosmetic ingredient that is more stable than resveratrol and its skin safety and whitening efficacy have been reported previously. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of resveratrol and resveratryl triacetate (RTA) on the inflammatory responses of human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) exposed to airborne particulate matters with a diameter of < $10{\mu}m$ (PM10). Cultured HEKs were exposed to PM10 in the absence or presence of resveratrol and RTA. Assays were undertaken to determine cell viability, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the expression of inflammatory cytokines. PM10 treatment decreased cell viability, and increased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Resveratrol and RTA reduced cell death and ROS production induced by PM10. PM10-induced mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokines was either attenuated (IL-6), or enhanced ($IL-1{\beta}$), or unaffected ($TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-8) by resveratrol and RTA. PM10-induced IL-6 protein expression was attenuated by resveratrol and RTA. This study suggests that resveratrol and RTA have activities regulating cell damage and inflammatory responses of the skin exposed to airborne particulate matters.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.133-141
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• 2007

There are produced more than 600,000 tons of seaweeds every year along the coast of the Korea. Jeonnam province, south-west coast area, of Korea is producing 93% of total amounts of seaweeds. The laver, sea mustard, and tangleweed maintain stability in the output and has been exported as a simple product processing through drying or salting. It was evaluated the low value-added products and limited the expansion for the consumption of seaweeds. The seaweeds contains 40-60% carbohydrate and structurally different compared with land plant. The dietary fiber from seaweeds has been known the function of facilitating the bowl movement, excretion the heavy metal in the body, lowering the blood cholesterol level, anti-coagulant of blood, and anticancer. Especially, brown algae including sea mustard, seaweed fusiforme, and tangleweed contains alginic acid, laminarin, mannitol, fucoidan which are lowering the blood cholesterol level, lowering blood pressure, and fusion of blood clot. Agar-agar, carrageenan, and porphyran compound in red algae are known to antimutagenicity and anticoagulant function. In spite of potential of seaweed as a main bio-resource, there are lack of research to facilitate the consumption with its functional properties and consumers are unsatisfied with simple processing products. Also, the seaweed by-product dump into the sea and cause pollution of the seawater. Therefore, there are needed the scheme to promote the consumption of seaweeds. The development of value-added products, finding functional properties from seaweeds, development the functional feed for animal using seaweed by-products, and utilization of unused algae for food or other industrial uses will increase fisherman's income as well as serve as an aid for the people health due to its functional properties. Using by-product of seaweed and unexploited seaweed are needed to development of bio-degradable food packaging material and functional feed for animal.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.518-527
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to define the toxic effects of diuron and irgarol, which are new-antifouling agents, on the fertilization rate and normal embryogenesis rate in the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. In addition, the study was intended to confirm the hindrance of development in sea urchins. The fertilization rate of H. pulcherrimus was not decreased by the tested concentrations. However, the normal embryogenesis rate was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The 50% effective concentrations (EC₅₀) of normal embryogenesis rate were 7.12 mg L^-1 and 2.31 mg L^-1, respectively. As the embryos developed into pluteus larvae, after 18 h of exposure to diuron and irgarol at EC₅₀, development of the early gastrula stage was delayed, and significant developmental delays were observed after 24 h. After this, continuous developmental delays were observed in the process leading to the early gastrular, gastrular, early pluteus, and pluteus stages. Therefore, the toxic effects of diuron and irgarol on sea urchins were attributed to the delay in the developmental processes in the early life stages. Diuron and irgarol are highly persistent in the environment and have known-well toxic effects on various marine organisms including invertebrates, as shown in this study. Therefore, it is urgent to establish an environmental protection strategy to prevent the pollution of and preserve the marine environment.